7 into the Eaft March, and goods were taken three or foure times a weeke. I had no other meanes left to quiet them, but ftill fent out of the garrifon horsemen of Berwick to watch in the fitteft places for them, and it was their good hap many times to light upon them with the ftolen goods driving before them. They were no fooner brought before mee, but a jury. went upon them, and being found guilty they were presently hanged. A course which hath beene feldom ufed, but I had no way to keep the country quiet but to do fo; for when the Scotch theeves found what a sharp course I took with them that were found with the bloody hand, I had in a fhort time the country more quiet. All this while wee were but in jeft as it were, but now beganne the great quarrell betweene us. There There was a favourite of his *, a great theife, called Giordie Bourne. This gallant with fome of his affociates, would in a bravery, come and take goods in the East March. I had that night fome of the garrifon abroad. They met with this Giordie and his fellowes, driving of cattle before them. The garrison sett upon them, and with a fhott killed Giordie Bourne's unckle, and hee himselfe, bravely refifting till he was fore hurt in the head, was taken. After hee was taken, his pride was fuch as hee afked, who it was that durft avow that nightes worke? but when he heard it was the garrifon, he was then more quiet. But so powerfull and awfull was this Sir Robert Car and his favourites, as there was * Sir Robert Car's. not G 3 not a gentleman in all the Eaft March that durft offend them. Prefently after he was taken, I had most of the gentlemen of the March come to mee, and told mee, that now I had the ball at my foote, and might bring Sir Robert Car to what condition I pleafed, for that this man's life was so neere and deare unto him, as I fhould have all that my heart could defire for the good and quiet of the country and myselfe, if upon any condition I would give him his life. I heard them and their reafons, notwithstanding I called a jury the next morning, and hee was found guilty of 64 MARCH-TREASON. Then they 64 The acts of parliament made in defence of the borders are now obfolete and ufelefs, by the happy union of the two kingdoms under one fovereign. feared feared that I would caufe him to be executed that afternoone, which made them come flocking to mee, humbly intreating mee that I would fpare his life till the next day, and if Sir Robert Car came not himfelfe to mee, and made mee not fuch proffers as I could not but accept, that then I fhould do with him what I pleased. And further they told mee plainly, that if I fhould execute him before I had heard from Sir Robert Car, they must be forced to quitt their houses and fly the country; for his fury would be fuch against mee and the March I commanded, as hee would ufe all his power and strength to the utter deftruction of the East March. They were fo earnest with mee, that I gave them my word hee should not dye that day. There was post upon poft fent to Sir Robert Car, and fome of them rode to him themselves to adver tise him in what danger Giordie Bourne was: how he was condemned, and fhould have been executed that afternoone, but by their humble fuite I gave them my word, that he should not dye that day; and therefore befought him that hee would fend to mee with all the speede he could to let mee know. that he would be the next day with mee, to offer mee good conditions for the fafety of his life. When all things were quiet and the watch fett at night, after fupper about ten of the clock, I tooke one of my mens liveryes and put it about mee, and tooke two other of my fervants with mee in their liveryes, and wee three as the Warden's men came to the Provoft Marshall's where Bourne was, and were let into his chamber. Wee fate down by him, and told him that wee were defireous. to fee him, because wee heard hee was ftout |